The Health Service Executive (HSE) has forked out more than €120 million on hiring transport for patients and staff over the last four years, according to figures obtained by Fine Gael.
The party’s health spokesman, Dr James Reilly, revealed today the HSE has spent an average €29 million per annum on taxi services.
Dr Reilly obtained the figures in response to a parliamentary question. He called for efficiencies to be made throughout the health service in place of painful cutbacks to patient services.
“Clearly there is a need to provide transport for patients but there must be a question mark over whether this is the most efficient, safest way to meet that need,” said Dr Reilly.
“Furthermore, while it is true that staff will be required to accompany patients from time to time, a bill for staff taxis of €650,000 to €700,000 sounds alarm bells.
“The HSE must provide a proper breakdown of this cost.”
The HSE said the use of taxis for patient transport represented a more cost effective solution when compared to investment in a fleet of HSE-owned vehicles, which would have additional costs relating to the provision of 24/7 staffing, maintenance, fuel, insurance and tax.
It revealed a review of the current patient transport service was under way after last year’s McCarthy Report recommended a 20 per cent saving in the area.
Dr Reilly maintained no changes were made to the service after an internal review in 2008 and criticised reports that the HSE has not tendered for taxi services since it was set up in 2005.
“Instead of prioritising value for money, Minister (Mary) Harney and the HSE slash away at front line services to the real detriment of patients and have imposed stealth taxes, such as the prescription charges, on the poorest and sickest in society,” he added.
PA